Decoding Your Floral Style | Helpful Tips from Ovando

We're thrilled to welcome back Karine Bailly, Merci New York's resident floral expert at Ovando. Ovando is among our all-time favorite floral designers here in NYC, we adore their creative eye and inventive style. Today, Ovando has popped by Merci to help brides decode their floral style...
Rain or shine, your wedding is certain to be the most unforgettable day of your life. Not only will all eyes be on you, but it is also a chance for you to put your creative eye to work!
“No problem!” you may be thinking. You’ve known since age seven that you’d one day promenade down the aisle in a pair of Chanel slingbacks! But perhaps you’ve not yet given quite as much thought to the floral design: a bouquet of plush hydrangea and garden roses, or a minimalist, yet elegant bouquet of brunia, artichoke and callas? The choices are infinite, so getting to know you style will help you to better convey your vision to your floral designer.
First things first: Determine your colors palettes and your design themes... Are you more modern or classic, or perhaps you're a bit rustic or eco-chic? Do you enjoy seasonal colors or customized palettes? Does your budget allow for tall, prominent arrangements or will you mingle in a larger abundance of simple yet smart single stem arrangements? Answering these questions early on will help you adhere to a more consistent design theme.
Dark and Light Color Palettes

Once you’ve got down the basics, you can work with your floral designer to get a better understanding of your options. When it comes to bouquets, Ovando is partial to the contemporary look of pavé and nosegay arrangements, which are more geometric than a traditional cascading bouquet. Incorporating lily grass loops or other fashioned greens adds dimension as well as a more modern touch to the bouquet. Either way, the bride’s bouquet should stand apart from that of her bridesmaids…it is her day after all!
Cream protias and chocolate cymbidium orchids

Centerpieces are an obvious must. Ovando adores the lavish look of tall seasonal branches, like curly willow or viburnum berry branches for fall, accented with seasonal flowers such as the beloved vanda or James Storie orchid.Ivory & Blush florals on high floral topiaries. Blush rose, peony & hydrangea bouquet

Otherwise, decorated tablescapes are a gorgeous alternative to the illustrious and more traditional centerpiece, particularly for long rectangular tables. Designing with low-standing elements such as driftwood, tea lights, fruit, moss and seasonal flowers allows you to thread your floral décor from end to end of the table. Using a mix of different vases is another great way to bring a simple tablescape to life. But, of course, there’s a whole gamut of options in between!
Tablescape using mixed-and-matched vases
Rustic-inspired tablescape with wood and moss accents

Aisle style is yet another way to weave color and spellbinding décor into your wedding. We love the look of flower petal lined aisles as this beautifully highlights the bride’s walkway. And alas, when she’s hand in hand with her soon-to-be husband, an arch, flower canopy or chuppah is a perfect way to powerfully frame the bride and groom. We adore the simple splendor of seasonal branches, willows or vine mixed with various floral accents.
Floral canopy

Of course, we know that all of these gorgeous options can sometimes be overwhelming. But whether you are a fledgling in the world of floral design or a zealous connoisseur, the most important part is to have fun bringing your vision to life…you can leave the thorny work to us!

Photo credits, from top: Top image via Style Me Pretty, Left: Jonas Peterson Photography via Once Wed; Right: Bradley Patrick of Sugar Love Weddings via Once Wed; Left: Eric Yerke; Right: Darin Fong; Chelsea Nicole via Style Me Pretty; Sarah Maren Photography; Left and right: Jennifer Dery Productions; tablescape images: Mimmo+Naz; Caroline Ghetes;
Left: Matthew Hanlon via Ovando; Right: Vera Photographics via Style Me Pretty.